Office partition



ppm-M 3m, v R. KELLER ET AL OFFICE PARTITION Filed Aug. 28, 1951 3Sheets-Sheet 1 ENVENTORS April 3%), W35. R. KELLER 5r AL 11,999,763

OFFICE PARTITION Filed Aug. 28, 1931 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORS A rrfifl3@, W3. R. KELLER ETAL H$999,763

OFFICE PARTITION Filed Aug. 28, 1931 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 B Y fir ATTOQQYPatented Apr. 30, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE N. Y., assignors toHenry Klein & York, N. Y., a corporation Co. Inc., New

Application August 28, 1931, Serial No. 559,866

8 Claims.

This invention relates to ofiice partitions of standardized andinterchangeable construction, partitions such that they are suitable fora wide variety of locations without special construction.

It is an object of the present invention to provide the component partsof the partition with an interlocking device so that they can be readilyput together. The interlocking device is adjustable to allow forvariations in the parts to be locked and is so constructed to impartrigidity to the partition. Another feature of the present invention isthe use of the well known telescoping post, with. an improvedtelescoping stile, in that said post and stile are symmetrical in crosssection about the horizontal axis perpendicular to the face of thepartition. With a symmetrical telescoping stile, it is possible toreverse said stile on the opposite side of the door for engaging thetransom without the use of a filler piece between the stile and thetransom. Special extension pieces are provided at the floor to take careof unevenness at the bottom of the posts.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent upon further study ofthe description and drawings in which:.-

Fig.1 is a partial front elevation of the partition.

Fig. 2 is a broken vertical section to an enlarged scale taken along theline 22 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a broken horizontal section to an enlarged scale taken alongthe line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a broken horizontal section to an enlarged scale taken alongthe line 44 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged partially sectional view of the interlockingdevice at the junction of a chair rail and a post.

Fig. 6 is a partial side elevation of a post show ing the undercut slot.

Fig. '7 is a perspective end view of a portion of a chair rail showingthe adjustable screw.

Fig. 8 is a partial cross section of a post taken along the line 88 ofFig. 6. i

Fig. 9 is a partial cross section of a post and chair rail taken alongthe line 9-9 of Fig. 5.

Fig. 10 is a partial cross section of a post and chair rail at a slotwhere there is only one integral molding formed on the side of the post.

Fig. 11 is a perspective view of the metal extension piece for thebottom of the post.

Fig. 12 is a partial front elevation of the lower portion of thepartition at a post.

Fig. 13 is a partial section taken along the line Iii-l3 of Fig. 12.

Fig. 14 is a partial plan section taken along the line l4-l4 of Fig. 12,and

Fig. 15 is a partial'cross section of a post and chair rail at a slot,but with the slot shown in the chair rail instead of in the post.

Base members I2 are provided with a slot l3 at their bottom (Figs. 1, 2and 12). A floor strip l4 (Figs. 2, 12, .13 and 14) is fastened to thefloor for substantially the entire length of the partition except atdoor I5. Base members I2 are set over floor strip l4 so that said stripenters slot l3. To allow for possible unevenness of the floor, floormolds it are fastened to the lower portion of base members I2, saidfloor molds being brought down to the floor while the bottom edge ofbase members l2 does not necessarily touch the floor. Base blocks Hwhich form the lower end of posts 18 come at either end of base membersE2. The bottom of posts l8 at their base blocks ll, also doesnotnecessarily touch the floor. Sheet metal extension pieces 19 (Figs.1, 11, 12, 13 and 14) are fastened to the lower portion of base blocksI1 to close any gapbetween the floor and the bot tom edge of saidblocks. The extension pieces it are provided with outstanding flangeswhich nest between base members I2 and floor molds I 6 (Figs. 11 and 14)The left hand end of the partition (Figs. 1 and 3) is provided with awall member 20 set against the wall. Between wall member 26 and thefirst post l8, 2. filler piece 2| is used.

. Door 15 is hung between the third and fourth (from the left on Fig. 1)posts I8, suitable jamb pieces 22 being used, as is well known to theart. Above base members l2 are mounted panels 23 of wood or othermaterial,.and on top of panels 23 and between posts l8 are set chairrails 24. Above chair rails 24 are mounted panels 25, usually of glass.Above panels'25 and door l5 and upon posts I8 is mounted cornice 26,consisting of the dust cap 21, crown mouldings 28 and clips 29 forholdingthe structure above said cornice as is well known to the art.Above cornice 25 are mounted panels 30, usually of glass, and over thedoor, transom 3 l. Between adjacent panels 30 and between those panels30, adjacent to transom 3|, and said transom, are located thetelescoping stiles 32 of posts I8. These stiles will be explained morefully later on. Above panels 30 are set sheets of fiber board 40.Another cornice 4! is mounted near the top of panels 30. g

The various panels are held in place on the posts, chair rails and basemembers by solid sticking or integral molding asindicated at 33, or byplanted-on molds as indicated at 34 (Figs.

2 and 3) as the exigencies of the erection of the partition require, asis well known to the art.

The chair rails and base members of the partition are fastened into theposts by special interlocking devices, which are indicated at thenumerals 35 in Fig. 1. Other members, if required for any particularpartition, as for example the cornice 26, also may be fastened to theposts by the special interlocking device. It isa device for the generaluse of fastening members to the posts of a partition, which isillustrated by way of example in the present case at the chair rails 24and base members l2. Referring now more particularly to Figs..5, 6, '7,8 and 9, chair rail 24. is provided with a wood screw 36. The end ofchair rail 2 is concaved or substantially U shaped, with the legs 39 ofthe U adapted to butt against the face of post l8, while at the sametime, said U shaped end can snugly fit over the moldings 33. Post it isprovided with an undercut keyhole slot 33 in its hollow shell, said slothaving an entrance opening 3?. The head of screw '36 is adapted to passthrough opening3'l and then down into slot 38, binding chair rail 24 topost 58. By adjusting the amount that screw 36 sets into the chair rail,a tight fit can be obtained between the chair rail and the post. A veryrigid connection'is obtained by this construction between the chair railand the post, the legs 39 of the end of the chair rail havingconsiderable leverage with screw 35 for stifiening the connection. Whenproperly adjusted, the screw requires forcing to slide it down the slot,the underside of the head of the screw bearing tightly against theforward sides of the undercut portion of slot 38. Molding 33 also playsa considerable partin stiffening the connection. A similar constructionto that just described is used for the connection of base members l2 topost-s w. Similarly, if desired, the dust cap 21 of cornice 26 can bemade interlocking with posts 58. In Fig. such a connection is shown.This connection differs from that of the chair rail in that instead ofhaving solid sticking or molding 33 on both sides of screw 36, molding33 is provided on the post at this locationonly on one side. t is notfeasible to have solid sticking on both sides of the post at thislocation, because of the method of inserting panels 25, as can be seenin Fig. 3, where planted-on molding 34 must be used. Fig. 19 does notshow molding 34 as the connection is made first and later on when thepanel is'erected molding 34 is inserted. Molding 34 extends upward (Fig.2) from the top of chair rail 3%.

For the proper setting of the partition andaction of theinterlockingdevices' 35, all keyhole slots 38 at the bottom of posts 18for the connection of base members 12 are set on a level with eachother. The use of floor molds l6 and sheet metal extension pieces #9compensate for any gaps between the floor and the bottom of said basemembers and posts due to the setting of the base members and posts withinterlocking devices 35 level. The setting of the interlocking devices35 at the bottom of the partition on a level, assures that those at thechair rails 24 are on a level since standard spacing of the interlockingdevices is used.

Transom 3i is provided with pivots, not shown, which permit it to swingabout a vertical axis at its center. Transom 3i, as well as panels 30,are mounted between telescoping stiles 32. These stiles at their lowerportion are inside of posts It which are hollow. Thestiles can be setvarying amounts inside of posts !8 to suit various panel heights. Thecross section of stiles 32 is symmetrical about its front to rearhorizontal axis. This permits the setting of the stiles in variouspositions without the addition of special pieces, as for example thestile 32 (Fig. 4) on the right hand side of transom 3i is turned 180degrees from stile 32 on the left hand side of said transom. Moldings 33on said stiles are adapted thereby to act as stops for the transom. Thecross section of posts i8 is also symmetrical about its horizontal frontto rear axis, permitting said posts to be set in various positions inpartitions and causing them to be interchangeable. Except for themoldings, the cross sections of the stiles and posts are symmetricalabout their horizontal axis parallel to the face of the partition. Thepost below the chair rail is symmetrical about this axis even includingthe moldings.

Instead of having screw 36 fastened to the horizontal members, such asthe chair rail 24, base 52 ordust cap 2?, it can be fastened to theposts (Fig. while slot 38 is formed in the horizontal members asillustrated in chair rail 24. All the claims are intendedto be .broadenough to cover this latter location of the screw and slot except thosethat specifically mention that the slots are between the moldings oradjacent the moldings.

We claim:

1. An office partition comprising posts, horizontal membersframed to theposts in spaced relation,'sheet panels without a frame mounted betweenthe posts and said members, said posts having a pair of moldings on eachsidesuitably spaced to support directly the sheets comprising saidpanels, projectionshaving a shank and an enlarged head, extending fromthe ends of said members, said posts being provided with slots oppositesaid projections, said slots comprising an outer portion and a widerinner portion, said outer portion being of a width sufficient topasssaid shank and located at the space between the moldings, said innerportion being of a width to contain said head, said head being mountedin the inner portion; said heads being adjustably locatable withreference to the ends of the members for varying their extensiontherefrom, said adjustability effecting longitudinal adjustment of theparts of the partition.

2. An ofiice partition as claimed in claim 1, in which the ends of thehorizontal members are concaved to fit the moldings on the sides of theposts, said heads being adjusted to cause the ends of said members tobutt against the sides of the posts and their moldings with substantialpressure.

3. An office partition as claimed in claim 1, in which the ends of thehorizontal members are substantially U shaped to pass the moldings onthe sides of the posts, said heads being adjusted to cause the ends ofthe legs of the U to butt against the sides of the posts withsubstantial pressure. 7

4. An ofiice parition comprising posts, horizontal members framed to theposts in spaced relation, sheet panels without a frame mounted betweenthe posts and said members, said posts being formed with an integralmolding on each side for supporting directly the sheet comprising eachpanel, screws screwed into the ends of said members, said posts havingslots adjacent said molding and opposite said screws, said slots havingan undercut portion, the heads of said screws being mounted in theundercut portion of said slots,

the ends of said horizontal members being concaved to pass the moldingand clear the slot on each side of said posts, said screws being set tocause the ends of said members to butt against the sides of the postswith substantial pressure.

5. An office partition comprising posts formed with a hollow shell,stiles telescopically mounted in said shells extending above the top ofsaid shells, horizontal members framed to the posts in spaced relation,panels mounted between the posts and said members and between saidstiles, said posts being provided opposite said members with slots intheir shells, said slots having an undercut portion, and projectionshaving enlarged heads extending from the ends of said members,

said heads being adjustably locatable with reference to the ends of saidmembers for varying their distance therefrom, mounted in the undercutportion of said slots said adjustability effecting longitudinaladjustment of the parts of the partition.

6. In an ofjce partition comprising base members, posts, of greaterthickness than said base members, framed between said members, and floormolds mounted on the bottom of said members, sheet metal extensionpieces, at the bottom of the posts, shaped to encompass the posts at theportions projecting beyond the thickness of the base members, andoutstanding flanges formed on said pieces nesting between the floormolds and the base members.

7. An oiiice partition comprising posts, horizontal members framed inspaced relation to the posts, sheet panels without a frame mountedbetween the posts and said members, said posts having moldings on theirsides for supporting directly the sheets comprising said panels, theends of said members being concaved said heads being' to pass themoldings, projections, having a shank and anenlarged head, extendingfrom the ends of said members, said posts being provided with slotsopposite said projections, said slots comprising an outer portion and awider inner portion, said outer portion being of a width sufficient topass said shank, said inner portion being of a width to contain saidhead, said head being mounted in the inner portion, said heads beingadjustably locatable with reference to the ends of the members forvarying their extension therefrom, said adjustability efiectinglongitudinal adjustment of the parts of the partition.

8. An ofiice partition comprising posts formed with a hollow shell,stiles telescopically mounted in said shells extending above the top ofsaid shells, horizontal members framed to the posts in spaced relation,sheet panels without a frame mounted between the posts and said members,moldings on the sides of said posts for supporting directly the sheetscomprising said panels, the ends of said members being concaved to passthe moldings, projections, having a shank and an enlarged head,extending from the ends of said members, said posts being provided withslots adjacent said moldings and opposite said projections, said slotscomprising an outer portion and a wider inner portion, said outerportion being of a width sufiicient to pass said shank, said innerportion being of a width to contain said head, said head being mountedin the inner portion, said heads being adjustably locatable withreference to the ends of the members for varying their extensiontherefrom, said adjustability effecting longitudinal adjustment of theparts of the partition.

RALPH KELLER. RAYMOND CARNEY.

